§ 1. Obligation to have names Everyone should have first name and a single or double surname and may also have middle names. Everyone has a duty to use their first name and surname of the persons. No one can take, change or remove a name other than under this Act.

§ 2. Duty to choose names for children no later than when the child reaches six months, should the person or persons who have parental responsibility for the child, notify what name the child should have. The child is aged six months without notification being sent to or without the message can be accepted, the child receives the mother's surname. This does not apply surname mentioned in § 4, first paragraph. 2, and the mother has no other name, the child receives instead the mother's first name with ending that indicates kinship.

Chapter 2. Last name, first name and middle name

§ 3. Free, protected and new surname name as more than 200 people in this country have the surname may be the surname of others without the consent of those who already have it. Names 200 or fewer people in this country have that last name, can only be taken as a surname if anyone already has the last name, agrees. For children under 18 years given the consent of the person or persons who have parental responsibility. Name that is not registered in the Central Population Register as a name that is used as a surname in this country, can be taken as surnames. This does not however name:

1. Is so similar to a protected surnames names can be easily mixed together. The name can still be taken if anyone has the protected name as a surname, agrees. Second paragraph, second sentence shall apply accordingly.

2. Identical or similar under paragraph. 1 with a commonly known business name, trademark or other characteristics that are protected in this country, with a commonly known name of a foundation, association, institution or similar or with a commonly known artist name, and it must be assumed that the legitimate interests would suffer harm if he gets the name.

3. Registered in the Central Population Register as a name that is or has been used as first names. The name can still be taken as a surname if it originates or tradition as surnames in Norway or abroad or has a tradition in a culture that does not distinguish between first and last names.

§ 4. Derived surname Regardless of limitations in § 3, the following names are taken as a surname:

1. Name that is or has been a great-great grandparents, great-grandparents, grandparents or parents' surname or middle name. This does not apply former name acquired through marriage or cohabitation.

2. One of the parents 'first names with ending that indicates kinship, or when the name has a tradition in a culture that permits, one of the grandparents' first names with ending that indicates kinship.

3. Name that is or has been one of the parents or grandparents first, when the name has a tradition in a culture that does not distinguish between first and last names.

4. Name that is or has been the spouse's surname or middle name, and which is not acquired by a previous marriage or cohabitation.

5. Spouse's first name when the name has a tradition in a culture that does not distinguish between first and last names.

6. Name which is one of step-parents or foster parents' surname or middle name, and they agree.

7. Surname or middle name which he had earlier, and that is not acquired by marriage or cohabitation, or middle name as he has.

8. Name on a farm which he or one of his parents own and have owned at least 10 years, or to the person or one parent uses and has used at least 20 years or have spent at least 10 years and has a right to use established for one of the parents or the person's lifetime. This does not apply if the name of the farm is selected after 1 January 1947, contrary to the law on 18 May 1990 no. 11 relating to Place Names § 3 letter a.

9. Surname or middle name as competent otherwise have a special connection.

Cohabitants who have lived together for at least two years or have children together, you choose the name by the first paragraph. 4 and 5 in the same way as spouses if her partner agrees. Besides after adoptive family may whoever is adopted taking names for her biological family after subsection. 1, 2 and 3.

§ 5. name by adoption Being someone who is under 18 years adopted would gain adopter surname unless otherwise provided for in connection with the adoption. This does not apply where one spouse adopts the other's children. When spouses together adopts someone who is under 18, get adopted child adoptive mother's surname unless otherwise provided for in connection with the adoption. § 2, second paragraph, second sentence shall apply accordingly.

§ 6. Changes in the same surname A change of spelling of a surname that bring spelling closer to the common pronunciation of the name or detailed written language in general, are not considered taking a different name. The same applies to a change of spelling of letters that are widely known abroad. An amendment of a by name gender specific ending is not regarded as taking a different name.

§ 7. Double Names Two names that can be taken as a surname, may be taken as a double surname where the two names are joined by a hyphen. In terms of §§ 3 and 4 is considered a double surname as two separate surnames.

§ 8. First As first name can not be selected a name that is registered in the Central Population Register as a name that is or has been in use as a surname or middle name. The name can still be taken as the first name if it originates or tradition as first name in Norway or abroad or has a tradition in a culture that does not distinguish between first and last names.

§ 9. Middle Name Names can be taken as surnames, may be taken as a middle name.

§ 10. General restrictions Although the other requirements are met, for a message to take, change or remove a name inadmissible if the person's personal else can be a major inconvenience to the person or other strong reasons for doing so. People over 16 can not take, change or remove a first or last name more than once every ten years. That person could still within ten years:

1. Take the surname of the last name of a spouse or a roommate who he has lived with at least two years or have children together with or for names that have a tradition in a culture that does not distinguish between first and last name, your spouse's or partner's first,

2. Take the surname of a surname which he previously had,

3. Take the surname of stepparents, foster parents or adoptive parents' surname, and

4. Change the first name back to the first name they had before taking the change

5. Take, change or remove a first or last name if there are special reasons.

Chapter 3. Procedural mm

§ 11. Notification requirements and administrative names matters Whoever will take, change or remove a name must notify the tax office, which decides whether the message should be accepted. For some names Affairs Ministry may decide that messages must be provided to and processed by a different agency. A decision to accept or refuse to accept a message can be appealed to the county governor. Ministry may issue further rules concerning the use of the reporting form and message the content and whether the proceedings in general.

§ 12. Notification of name of child Notification to take, change or remove a name for someone who has not attained 16 years shall be submitted by the person or persons who have parental responsibility, or they must have consented to the message. Notification refers a child over 12 years, have children themselves have agreed. Although there is no consent by the first or second sentence, the message is accepted if there are special reasons. Notification refers to a person who has changed legal status under the Act on change legal status § 4, second sentence, it is sufficient with the consent of one of them has parental responsibility.

§ 13. Lawsuit Is anyone's rights violated by a decision accepting a message to, change or remove a name that person can do his or her right to court within two years after the person became aware or ought reasonably to have known of the decision. The lawsuit must be brought within 10 years after the decision was made.

§ 14. Who Act applies, foreign names decisions, etc. The Act applies to anyone in the Central Population Register is registered as resident in Norway and intend to remain here permanently. The covered by the first paragraph and is a foreign national, may in the realm submit notification to take, change or remove a name in accordance with the decision of the national authorities in the country, unless otherwise provided by regulations made under subsection.

The King may issue regulations concerning the name legal rules that apply to foreign nationals who live in this country, and for Norwegian citizens living abroad, and on protection in the realm of surnames in use abroad.

Chapter 4. FINAL PROVISIONS

§ 15. Commencement This Act applies from the time Kongen1 decide. At the same time ceases Act 29 May 1964 No.. 1 about person names to apply.

§ 16. Transitional provisions Whoever the commencement of the Act surname consisting of two names separated by spaces, can even keep the name in this form. Name as the commencement of the Act consists of two names associated with the hyphen, is considered a double surname consisting of two surnames.

§ 17. Amendments to other Acts From the time this Act comes into force, the following amendments to other Acts - - -

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